Karl Burns
Encyclopedia
Karl Burns is a British musician best known as drummer
for The Fall, featuring in many incarnations of the band between 1977 and 1998.
Although several musicians have rejoined The Fall having previously left or been sacked, Burns was rehired a record nine times. He eventually left for good, alongside longtime bassist Steve Hanley
, following an on-stage altercation with group leader Mark E. Smith
in New York in April 1998.
.
Burns left in early 1979, joining The Teardrops
, with Steve Garvey of Buzzcocks
, with whom he formed a brief and parallel project, Bok Bok, and remained in the band until 1981, when they broke up. He rejoined The Fall that latter year, initially as a temporary replacement for Paul Hanley
who was refused a visa for a US tour due to being too young. Recordings from this tour were released as A Part of America Therein, 1981. Upon the group's return to the UK, Smith invited Burns to stay on and The Fall appeared with two drummers until Paul Hanley's departure in late 1984. Burns would also sometimes play a second bass guitar during this period; an example of this can be heard on "Lay Of The Land" from The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall
.
He left The Fall in early 1986 and was replaced by Simon Wolstencroft
. However, he rejoined the band in 1993, playing alongside Wolstencroft in a second two-drummer line-up until the latter left in 1997. Burns also played guitar and even sang during this period. However, he was absent from several tours in the 90s, leaving and returning regularly until his final departure.
Burns played with two other bands during time out from The Fall - he formed Thirst with ex-Fall guitarist Martin Bramah
in the '80s. Burns also played briefly with John Lydon
's Public Image Limited (PIL) in September 1979, but left because he did not get along with other members, including guitarist Keith Levene
and bass guitarist Jah Wobble
, the latter of whom was long alleged to have attempted to set Burns on fire. However Wobble denied this in 2007.
When journalist Dave Simpson
set out to locate all the roughly 50 members of the Fall past and present—first in a 2006 newspaper article, then in the book The Fallen -- he was unable to find the whereabouts of two members: Burns and Mike Leigh. Several ex-Fall members expressed their fears that Burns was dead. Nonetheless there have been reported sightings by fans and, in an interview with The Stool Pigeon (issue 10, February 2007), Mark E Smith states that he had recently met Burns' mother; she confirmed that he was indeed alive, advising Smith that he "lives on a farm in the hills somewhere".
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for The Fall, featuring in many incarnations of the band between 1977 and 1998.
Although several musicians have rejoined The Fall having previously left or been sacked, Burns was rehired a record nine times. He eventually left for good, alongside longtime bassist Steve Hanley
Steve Hanley
Steve Hanley may refer to:*Steve Hanley , English musician*Steve Hanley , English rugby union player...
, following an on-stage altercation with group leader Mark E. Smith
Mark E. Smith
Mark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
in New York in April 1998.
Biography
Burns was The Fall's first permanent drummer, joining them in time for their second gig. He had previously played in a different band, Nuclear Angel, with founding Fall bassist Tony Friel. Burns is heard on the group's first two singles and their first studio album Live at the Witch TrialsLive at the Witch Trials
Live at the Witch Trials is the debut album by The Fall, first released on 16 March 1979. It is not, despite its title, a live album, but was recorded in the studio in one day and mixed by producer Bob Sargeant the next. In 2004, bassist Marc Riley told the BBC that the group had been booked into...
.
Burns left in early 1979, joining The Teardrops
The Teardrops (band)
The Teardrops were a Punk/New Wave band formed in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, England, in 1978. The founders and always the core of this band were Trevor Wain, John Key and Jimmy Donnelly with various good friends from the Prestwich music scene:- Buzzcocks bassist Steve Garvey, members of The...
, with Steve Garvey of Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, with whom he formed a brief and parallel project, Bok Bok, and remained in the band until 1981, when they broke up. He rejoined The Fall that latter year, initially as a temporary replacement for Paul Hanley
Paul Hanley (musician)
Paul Hanley is an English musician, based in Manchester. He is best known for playing drums in The Fall and The Lovers.-Career:...
who was refused a visa for a US tour due to being too young. Recordings from this tour were released as A Part of America Therein, 1981. Upon the group's return to the UK, Smith invited Burns to stay on and The Fall appeared with two drummers until Paul Hanley's departure in late 1984. Burns would also sometimes play a second bass guitar during this period; an example of this can be heard on "Lay Of The Land" from The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall
The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall
The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall is an album by The Fall, released in October 1984. It was the band's first album with the relatively large Beggars Banquet label, and was produced by John Leckie. Paul Hanley left the band immediately after the accompanying UK tour, ending the group's...
.
He left The Fall in early 1986 and was replaced by Simon Wolstencroft
Simon Wolstencroft
Simon Wolstencroft is a musician from Manchester, England, best known for playing drums with The Fall between June 1986 and August 1997.Wolstencroft was a member of an early incarnation of The Stone Roses; having previously been a member of The Weeds and The Colourfield. He was also drummer for...
. However, he rejoined the band in 1993, playing alongside Wolstencroft in a second two-drummer line-up until the latter left in 1997. Burns also played guitar and even sang during this period. However, he was absent from several tours in the 90s, leaving and returning regularly until his final departure.
Burns played with two other bands during time out from The Fall - he formed Thirst with ex-Fall guitarist Martin Bramah
Martin Bramah
Martin Bramah is a British musician best known as a founder member of both The Fall, Blue Orchids and Factory Star....
in the '80s. Burns also played briefly with John Lydon
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
's Public Image Limited (PIL) in September 1979, but left because he did not get along with other members, including guitarist Keith Levene
Keith Levene
Keith Levene is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was an early member of The Clash, but is best known as being a founding member of Public Image Limited, along with John Lydon....
and bass guitarist Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble
Jah Wobble is an English bass guitarist, singer, poet and composer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but left the band after two albums...
, the latter of whom was long alleged to have attempted to set Burns on fire. However Wobble denied this in 2007.
When journalist Dave Simpson
Dave Simpson
Dave Stewart Simpson is a former ice hockey player, now executive director of the Business Families Centre at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and known as David Simpson....
set out to locate all the roughly 50 members of the Fall past and present—first in a 2006 newspaper article, then in the book The Fallen -- he was unable to find the whereabouts of two members: Burns and Mike Leigh. Several ex-Fall members expressed their fears that Burns was dead. Nonetheless there have been reported sightings by fans and, in an interview with The Stool Pigeon (issue 10, February 2007), Mark E Smith states that he had recently met Burns' mother; she confirmed that he was indeed alive, advising Smith that he "lives on a farm in the hills somewhere".